DIARY OF EVENTS: 28th August - Adam Miller speaking AUSTRALIAN PLANTS SOCIETY (Formally SGAP) on Genes and fragmented landscapes, planting for the future Warrnambool & District Group Inc. Newsletter through smart genetic management. August 2015 No 407 Correa reflexa ‘Grannys Grave’ www.facebook.com/warrnamboolsgap 1st September Committee Meeting Laura Weedon’s

Incorporation No: AOO1312OX ABN: 51672752196 Web: www.warrnambool.org/sgap 19th/20th September WAMA Grampians Trip. Hi members, EDITORIAL Still no real sign of a let up in the cold weather as yet, we travelled around NSW for 2 weeks and the only warm weather we found was 25th Sept - Brian Lacy “Brian & around Byron Bay, the rest of the state was freezing. Its good to be back home though. On the way into Melbourne on Friday we called Betty’s Gardening Story” into the Melton Botanic Gardens and met up with Friends group President, John Bentley who even opened up the nursery for us to make some purchases. Its always good to network with like minded groups to see how they do things. If you get the opportunity make sure 29th Sept - Committee Meeting you check it out too. See report on pages 7 & 8. Also check out www.fmbg.org.au Cheers, Kevin Louise Sheba

NEXT MEETING: Revegetation: Genetics and Provenance. NOTE Change of format, Adam will be talking from 8.00pm 23rd October - Lisette Mill. Wildlife Motion Cameras Dr. Adam Miller, ecological geneticist and conservation superstar will be speaking on Friday 28 August at 8pm in the Mozart Hall, Gilles St Warrnambool. If you’ve ever considered provenance when selecting plants for revegetation then this is the talk for you. 27th October - Committee Meeting Artis’ Adam Miller lives and works in Warrnambool and has worked on genetic projects for species as diverse at the Orange Bellied Parrots, local Abalone and threatened freshwater crayfish. Adam’s research focuses using genetic tools to guide the management of Australian 27th November - Rod Bird wildlife, including both native and invasive species groups. 28th November Xmas Breakup Lemmens 12.00 noon On Friday night (the 28th Aug) Adam will explain how genetics can be applied as a conservation tool to maximise plant population heath, resilience and adaptive potential. He will discuss practical strategies for sourcing and mixing seed and the limitations of relying on provenance only seed collections when conducting revegetation projects. ‘Plants of the Great South West’, book on plants of South West Victoria Do not fear the heavy content, this will not be a dull and dry presentation, Adam is an engaging speaker whose passion for his subject is $20, available from clear. He will also talk about work he is hoping to do on Banksia's of the Victorian Volcanic Plains and further afield. Kevin Sparrow at Look forward to seeing some of you there. Visitors are especially welcome. [email protected] Ph: 55626217 -- Laura Weedon Environmental consultant Like us on Facebook The APS Warrnambool & District holds meetings on the 4th Friday of each month at the Mozart Hall Warrnambool at 8pm. Members Night: Friday 28th August from 8.00pm where our speaker will be Dr Adam Miller speaking on “Genes and fragmented landscapes: planting for the future through smart genetic management” Australian Plants Society - Warrnambool & District Group August 2015 Newsletter

New APS Warrnambool & District Web Page by Kevin Sparrow

Check out our new web page launched this week. A big thank you to my son-in-law, Lui Merlino for assisting me in the development of this. The Warrnambool Plants Gallery is still in development phase but the rest of the links are up and operating. Any other ideas gratefully accepted!

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July Display Table Report By Kerry Artis

Mike Halls brought along five acacias. Acacia boormanni Snowy River Kevin Sparrow showed us Wattle, a very open tree which has lovely balls of fluff, Acacia podalyriifolia Pandorea pandorana Silver Wattle is a very showy tree with silver-grey foliage that has been flow- ‘Golden Showers’ which is ering for about 6 weeks and will be pruned back when it has finished flower- 20 years old and was cut ing, Acacia acinacea (Photo below) Gold Dust Wattle is 3’ high and 9’ wide right back to ground level and looking spectacular with its ball flowers. Acacia wattsiana Gladstone but shot again and is doing Wattle is looking great and Acacia iteaphylla Flinders Range Wattle is a large weeping shrub that Mike has hedged and has responded well. Grevillea levis very well, Hardenbergia Spikey Grevillea is one of Mikes favourites, the birds love it, it is 3’6” high violacea in the pink form is and he keeps it pruned as its beside a path and very prickly, Pandorea pan- a tough climbing plant that dorana Wonga-wonga Vine is growing near a fence and is also kept pruned. survives dry conditions, Kennedia prostrata Running Postman with white flowers is very pretty and rambling under other shrubs. Hakea coriacea is a grafted plant that has done very well but has spread sideways so will need to be pruned up a bit, Hovea lanceolata was grown from seed and has small blue- purple flowers and Alyogyne huegelii has a large purple flower. Chorizema varia (photo below) is a rare plant from WA that has been grown from a cutting and has a prickly leaf while Pterostylis nutans Nodding Greenhood does very well every year. Others on show were Thryptomene caly- cina, Banksia coc- cinea, Eremophila maculata and Hakea multilineata.

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Bunnings BBQ a Great Success

A big thank you to all who assisted with the running of our Bunnings BBQ last month. The day proved to be very successful with some $800 being raised which will be put towards the running of our group over the next twelve months. A special thank you to Bunnings Warehouse for giving us the opportunity.

Please submit your articles for the newsletter by the end of the second week of the month President: Kevin Sparrow Phone: 55626217 Vice President: Bob Artis, Brown St, Allansford. Phone: 0417 321225 Secretary: John Sherwood. 26 McConnell St, Warrnambool Phone: 55628064 Email: [email protected] Treasurer: Mike Halls, 127 Rooneys Rd, Warrnambool 3280 Phone: 55626519 Email: [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Kevin Sparrow 35 Swan Street, Warrnambool. Phone: 55626217 Email: [email protected] Publicity Officer and Librarian: Vacant Public Officer: John Sherwood. Phone: 55628064 APS Reps: vacant, History Book Coordinator: Joyce Sparrow. Other Committee Members: Kerry Artis, Laura Weedon, Louise Sheba

APS Warrnambool & District is a District Group of the Australian Plants Society (Vic) All members are required to also be a member of APS Vic. 4 Australian Plants Society - Warrnambool & District Group August 2015 Newsletter

Warrnambool Art Gallery Exhibition of Drawings of Plants Collected by The Warrnambool Art Gallery is putting together an exhibition of native plant drawings called Banks' Florilegium. It consists of seven hundred and forty three botanical line engravings, after the watercolours drawn from nature by Sydney Parkinson. The illustrations record the plants collected by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr Daniel Carl Solander while in Madeira, Brazil, Tierra del Fuego, the Society Islands, New Zealand, Australia and Java on Captain 's first voyage round the world, 1768-1771.

This exhibition is now considered one of the most brilliant collections of botanical art in the world. Banks was the leader of a scientific team on board James Cook's 1770 voyage along the east coast. Included in his team were and Sydney Parkinson. Sydney Parkinson made the sketches as Solander and Banks collected specimens. The exhibition opens on September 12 and is open until November 22. and our group members are especially invited to view the exhibition and have an afternoon tea with staff.

Drawings below L to R are: Goodenia ovata, graminifolium and Scaevola calendulacea.

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Tozer Reserve Educational Sign

The new educational sign for Tozer Reserve has been completed, see below. The sign is 2 metres long, was designed by and features photos by Kevin Sparrow and also recognises the traditional aboriginal tribe from the area. All that remains is to arrange a day for the sign to be erected on the wall of the shelter at the reserve.

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Melton Botanic Garden

A DECADE ago a small but determined band of volunteers dreamt that one day Melton would have its own botanic garden.

And through hard work and dedication, the Friends of the Melton Botanic Gardens is now celebrating a garden that has blossomed into a flourishing community asset. Friends president John Bentley said there has been a lot of progress since the group formed in 2004, and everyone was immensely proud of their achievements. "From gaining community interest in 2004 to a site for the gardens in 2005 and the first planting in 2008, we are all so proud," he said. But Mr Bentley said none of it would have been possible without the strong backing from the community and Melton Council. "There has always been a very positive feel from the community and real enthusiasm and support from them and Melton Council, backing us all the way." Mr Bentley said the garden now enjoyed a phenomenal reputation which sees people from all over Australia visiting. But there is even more to come. In the next 12 months he said there were grand plans for several new gardens including both a West Australian and South Australian inspired garden. "We will also be working with Melton Lions Club to develop a Victorian Volcanic Plains Aboriginal Plant Usage Garden and with Rotary on a yet to be decided project." He said the group was excited to see the garden's latest addition, a Koori student garden, taking shape.

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Photos Taken at Melton Botanic Garden

Photos by Kevin Sparrow, Left Top: Eucalyptus albo-purpurea, Left Bottom: Eucalyptus “Silver Princess”, Right: Eucalyptus synandra

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Shows, Conferences, Plant Sales and Other Items of Interest 2015 5 September 2015 APS Wilson Park Plant Sale, Wilson Botanic Park, Princes Highway, Berwick. 9 am to 4.00 pm

5 & 6 September 2015 Bendigo Native Plants Group Flower Show, Rotary Gateway Park, 26 High Street, Kangaroo Flat.

12 & 13 September 2015 APS Yarra Yarra Native Plants Expo at Eltham Community & Reception Centre, 801 Main Road, Eltham. 10 am to 4 pm both days. Mel 21J6.

12 & 13 September 2015 The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Inc – Annual Biodiversity Symposium 2015 “Impacts on Biodiversity During the Anthro- pocene” which will address the many and varied effects we humans have had on the environment over the centuries. At the FNCV Hall, 1 Gardenia Street, Blackburn, from 9.30 to 4.30 pm on both days. Program available on www.fncv.org.au.

19 & 20 September 2015 APS Colac/Otway Group hosting quarterly and APS Victoria AGM. “Coast to Inland Lakes – Bridging the Otways.”

19 & 20 September 2015 Angair (Anglesea and Aireys Inlet Wildflower and Art Show), Anglesea Memorial Hall, McMillan St, Anglesea. 10.00 am to 4.30 pm. Small entry fee.

26 & 27 September 2015 RBG Cranbourne Growing Friends Spring Plant Sale, from 10 am to 4.00 pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Cash or cheque only.

3 & 4 October 2015 APS Grampians Group Pomonal Native Flower Show, Pomonal Hall. 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.

17 October 2015 APS Mitchell Annual Spring Plant Expo and Sale, from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm Memorial Hall, Sydney Street, Kilmore.

17 & 18 October 2015 South Gippsland Native Plant Sale & Flower Show, Gippsland Historical Automobile Club pavilion, Leongatha. 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. Enquiries Coral 5664 2221.

24 October 2015 APS Echuca Moama Native Flower Showcase. Echuca Uniting Church Hall, Hare Street, Echuca.

15-20 November 2015 28th ANPSA Biennial Conference, Canberra. “Bush Capital, Garden City” Website http://conference2015.anpsa.org.au. Speakers include Angus Stewart (AJ Swaby Address), Ian Fraser, David Headon, Penny Olsen and David Lindenmayer AO.

8 & 9 October 2016 FJC Rogers Seminar in Hamilton “Native Terrestrial and Epiphytic Orchids”.

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